Milton markets on the move

News of the markets moving from the Princes Highway to the Milton Showground has attracted more than 30 new stallholders. 

Renamed the Milton Village Showground Markets, the monthly event will be held at the new location for the first time on Saturday, September 30 from 8.30am to 2.30pm. 

Market coordinator Susie Greentree said the move was sad, but “very exciting”. 

“After watching the markets slowly dwindle from, in their height, having about 30 stalls, to now having 10 on a beautiful day, I thought it was time of a face lift and a new venue,” she said. 

“Parking became an issue and on big market days parents weren’t keen to bring their kids because it is on the highway. 

“The main street has outgrown the markets and the stallholders found themselves being scattered around, which did not help to produce a bustling market atmosphere, which the markets were once known for.”

Ms Greentree is hoping the Milton markets become a “destination market”. 

“I am hoping it will be a destination market. You see how good Berry and Moruya markets are; that is what I hope it becomes,” she said. 

“It will still promote the Milton township and parking won’t be an issue. I hope people will wander into Milton after the markets.”

More than 40 stalls will be at the first Milton Showground market, Ms Greentree said. 

“More locals have applied for stalls, as previously there was no room for them at the old markets,” she said. 

“The response from new stallholders has been fantastic, with over 30 new stalls applying for the first market. Combined with the original stallholders, this amounts to over 40 stalls.”

Milton shop owner Janey George, who founded the markets in 1979, said the move was “great” and hoped to see the markets expand. 

“When we moved to the shop in 1979 Milton was a very quiet place,” she said.

“To get people into town and revive Milton on a Saturday, we decided to started the art and craft market. That, overtime, evolved into the flea markets to enable second hand goods.

“That lasted for about 10 years and then people were saying it wasn’t a good plan and it should be changed to the Milton Village Markets.’

Mrs George said as more shops moved into Milton, there was less space for market stalls. 

“It is time for us to move on and move with the times,” she said. 

“The original plan was to get people to come to Milton, but now they come to Milton anyway.”